How can i get my speed up???

[smilingcat]

just keep riding at a pace where you are breathing a little faster than usual. Speed will come naturally.

As for cadence, someone suggested higher than 60rpm. It's a good advice. Normal people will keep their cadence between 60 to 90 maybe 100rpm.

Don't fret and just keep riding.

[przc]

Thank-you all for your responses. When i rode yesterday i tried keeping my bike in a higher gear and since i am used to feeling the lower gears when riding i kept switching back and forth. I actually felt i went slower than usual in high gear but then i had felt the same when that guy told me to switch to lower gears and spin more. His words were spin to win and it will keep your legs tone not bulky from higher gears.

[KnottedYet]

His words were spin to win and it will keep your legs tone not bulky from higher gears.

Keeping the legs toned not bulky. That's a new take on high cadence I've never heard before.

Heaven forfend a woman should have visible muscles. Or be able to use a larger gear than a man and pass his sorry butt...

Pedal at your happy cadence, change gears to change speeds.

"Drop into a lower gear and spin to win!" I'll have to remember that next time someone is going too fast for me to keep up and I need to make her slow down. (Your current speed is already awesome, and if you keep riding you are going to get much faster.)

[przc]

I just have to say i have very muscular legs ( I think he was itimidated) LOL.
I bumped a old post back to the top i thought it was helpful.

[Aquila]

It's also worth remembering that the guy who passed you could be a Cat 1 racer or something, or doing intervals, or whatever. Even the best bikers get passed on occasion.

17mph sounds like a GREAT cruising speed. If you're smiling and having fun, you're doing well.